Method for testing gas mixtures



. Jan. 1-3. 1925.

9 1,522,848 C. L. VORESS ET AL METHOD FOR TESTING GAS MIXTURES Filed May 2, 1924 FIG. 2. A

(ZYDEZ. WREJ'J 131 0311 127 wjlmo a" N VEN TOR;

A TTORNE y atented' 13 1925;

CLYDE flnnnnnn vonEss,

sxooe; or crmnnnsron, was: 7 0ORZPORA'1ION,A donr nA'rIoN or DELAWARE.

vnrmon CHARLES CANTER nun ROBERT wALrnnn vmemm, ASSIGNORS "ro GASOLINE nncovnmr mn'rnon'roa 'rns'rme GAS mrx ruars.

To all whom it may concern:

vBe it known that we, CLYDE L. Vonnss, VERNON G.'CA N' 1ER, 21I1d ROBERT W. Sxooe, citizens of the United States, residing at' Charleston, in the-county of Kanawha and State of est Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods for Testing Gas Mixtures; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as-wilr enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This inventionv relates to an. improved method of making tests to determine the:

proportion tO-which one vapor or series of vapors may be present in a mixture of vapors. It relates more specifically to an improved method for determiningthe extent to which vapors of gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, benzol, 'toluol, alcohol, ether, acetone, amyl'acetate, ammonia, acetylene, or any other substances which might be amenable to determination by this process, may be present in vapor mixture.' It relatesfurther, to an improved testing method I which will recover such vapors as named tests may above in volume sufliciently large that other be conducted on the condensed recoveredvapors. It also relates to an improved apparatus suitablev for carrying out the purposesenum'erated. For the purpose of describingthis invention to the public, we will confine our descripti'on of the invention to its application in the determination of the gasoline content of natural gas, although we do not 'in any t1on to this particular.

way confine our-inve use. 1 J

Patent'No. 1,420,613 issued to G. L. Voress and V. O. Canter, two of the applicants hereinnamed, among other things disclosed a commercial process for the recoveryfof gasoline from natural gas; The process consists in displacing absorbed vapors by condensed 'distillingvapors at a temperature higher than the temperature at which the absorbed vaors were absorbed, then dis the istilling vapors by lighter yapors fpr lower than that at which the distilling va rs were absorbed and finally'displacing the lighter vapors by heavier vapors at a Lipplication filed May 2,

the most 'part at a temperature 192 Serial No. 710,637.

temperature lower than the temperature at;-

which the distilling vapors were absorbed.

It is often desirable to make preliminary tests of a natural gas supply before constructing a plant, with an apparatus which is much less elaborate, one that can be transported easily from place to place. Prior to the present invention, the determinationof the gasoline content of natural gas has been carried out in a number of ways, .chieflyf by compression andrefrigelation, by absorption, and recovery from an -oil or liquid menstrum, or absorption and recovery from a solid absorbent. By thelattermethOd, prior to the present invention, natural gas vapors were passed through tubes containing such solid absorb; cuts as activated carbon, silicagel, iron gel,

etc., and subsequently the vapors were removed from the absorbent-by the applicatlon of heat, applied either-directly through I steam orvthroughvsome high boiling liquid placed in direct contact with the absorbent. As the vapors were'liberated 'from the absorbent they were condensed at practically atmospheric pressure in a condenser surrounded by cooling water; This cooling;

water is generally kept .7 at a temperature 7 of approximately 32 by means of cracked ice. For a description of this proc- G.'Oberfell on May 15th, 1923.

Any experimental ;method' for determinm'g gasoline content of natural gasshould ess see Patent No. 1,455, 263 issued to George I give an accurate indication of what might be expected if a commercial plant were constructed to recover the gasoline; Itis known fact among scientific men that any testing method, to be of maximum value,

must be such that'all factors which are to be encountered in the, commercial plant can i be accurately forecast by the testing'method. Now the following disadvantages are pres ent in'the old testing method:

1. 'No attemptis made in the testing awell method to duphcate the cooling water temperatures to be encountered in the commer- Y ciail' plant. 1 1

2. No attempt is madev in the testing method to duplicate the ressures under which the condensation ta es commercial plant,

place in the 7 is a fluid outletto the-outer shell of the j 3. No attempt is made to duplicate the saturation and, therefore, to secure .thesame conditions as regards gravity and vapor' tension of'the product.

6. From a utility standpoint the old method has a number of limitations; for

instance, it cannot be used in a field where ice is not available.

All of these factors are given careful consideration .inthe novel method andapparatus hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly stforth injthe'appended Referring to the accompanying drawing;

Fig. 1 is "a side view partly-in. section of a meter and an absorber. Y

Fig. 2 is .a diagrammatic view of the main "part'of the testing apparatus.

In Figure 1; 12 may be either a positive or orifice. gas meter.

13 is a tube containing solid absorbent.

In Figure 2;

1 is a retort. Y 2'is any'gas-tig'ht mechanical means of attaching the retort "to the condenser.

3 is a' thermometer .well.

4 is the inner tube of acondenser.

5 is the outer shell of the condenser.

6 is a fluid inlet to the outer shell of, the condenser.

condenser.

8 is a condensate receiving tube.

9 is a relief valve hand operated.

I 10 isa pressurega'uge.

11 is an outlet tube from the condensate tube.

The method of operation consists in meas- 'uring a predetermined quantity of gas it ityof the gasoline to be; recovered. After. the sample is taken, it placed the re-.- tort 1- and suflicient high-boiling liquid through the meter 12 and allowing it to'flow in direct contact with the solid absorbent in tube 13. At this point it may be stated that theamount of gas to be passed throu h tube 13 is determined by the operator om a knowledge of the quality of the gasoline which it is desired that the commercial plant produce, together with a knowledge of the gravit of the gas, fie1d location, and such other hnowledge as may be available. We

have learned from commercial plant experience that the saturation that may be carriedon-the absorbent varies with the qual- -mercial. plant system.

' Letters Patent is laced over 4 it to I thoroughly saturate it. i alve 9 isclosediand. water of a tempera- .ture correspondingto-that which isto be gently at first until the pressure in the entire system, that is, through tube 4, condensate tube 8, and up to valve 9, is equal 7 to that which is to'be carried in the com- This pressure is shown by gauge '10. As soon as this pres sure is reached, valve 9 is slightly opened. and so regulated by hand'that uncondensed vapors escape therefrom slowly and ,the flame under retort 1 is so varied throughout the length of distillation that sufiicient' v vapors are driven'from the solid absorbent to maintain the predetermined pressure throu hout-the system as shown by .gauge 10. K11 vapors condensing in tube drip into-- condensate tube 8 where they are retain'ed until the .end of the distillation.

They are then measured, the gravityand vapor tension of the product taken,.and such other tests on the. condensate as may be desirable aremade by the operator. If a first test shows a higher va or tension and gravity than that desire in the commercial plant, the amount of gas passed through the absorbent is increased in a second test or vice versa, and the first test discarded.

By the use of this apparatus and process thepperator is enabled to make direct comparisons between: the test method results and commercial plant results because of the five advantagesalready enumerated: First,-

comparable saturationssecond, comparable rates of distillation; third, comparable tem- 1 -peratures of condensationrfourth, compar- "able pressure during condensation; fifth,

comparable quality of product.-

" What we claim and desire to secure by -1. A testing process consisting in absorbing. a portion of a measured volumeofvapor. mixture in a solid absorbent, later distil lingthe absorbed-vapors therefrom by'replacing over the absorbent a high boiling point liquid 'and applying heat thereto at a rate which will maintam a given pressure in the condenser system and condensing a portion of the vapors distilled therefrom'i'n a water cooled condenser, wherein the water for cooling is 'maintained at the temperature of that available for, commercial plant practice. I

- 2. A testing method consisting in, selectively absorb'mg a portion of a measured quantity'ofgas mixture in a" solid absorbent,

later distillin the absorbed vapors therefrom by placingsai: solid absorbent, to ether with a;-hig h boiling liquid, in a disti ing' retort and securely attaching said retort to a gastight closed condenser and collecting system, applying'heat to the retort, and heat (mg slowly until a predetermined pressure has been created throughout the system by the vapors distilled from the solid absorb- I cut, passingcooling water in contact with a portion of the closed system to continuously condense a portion of the distilled vapors,

' regulating a relief valve so that the uncondensed vapors slowly escape, .maintaining the heat around the retort thereafter so as to maintain the constant pressure on the system and collecting the condensed vapors in liquid form in a' portion o'f the apparatus;

3/Atesting method which consists in selectively absorbing-a portion of a measured volume of .vapor mixture in. a solid absorbent, later placing the solid absorbent containing" the absorbed vapors together with a liquid distillinghgent in a closed, retort attached to a vertical closed systemv madeup of vapor conducting tubes, a por. tion of which are water cooled and a por-, tion enlarged to receive condensed vapors, applying heat gently at firstto the retort ,until .a predetermined pressure has been created by the distilled vapors throughout the system, ,cooling a' portion of the closed container to a temperature equal to that obtainable in commercial plant practice throughout the distillation, slightly opening a relief valve located beyond the coolingportion of the apparatus after the prede termined' pressure has been reached so as topermit the escape of a limited portion -of the uncondensed vapors and thereafter so regulating the heat being applied to the retort and the relief valve that ,the predetermined:

' pressure is maintained throughout the distillation, and finally collecting the con densedmaterial which has separated by gravity from the uncondensed vapors in the A lower portion of the vertical apparatus.

4. A testing method which consists in passing a measuredvolume of vapor hear- ,ing gas, said volume being determined by a knowledge 05E. the final. product" to be obtained, through a-solid absorbent wherein a portion of thevapors are absorbed, later placing thesolid absorbent together: with a measured quantity of high boiling liquid in I a vessel securely attached to a gas-tight system so arranged that a predetermined pressure may be built up by the distilled vapors and maintained throughout the system when heat is applied at a regulated rate to the solid absorbent, and i also while cooling water at a temperature equal to that avgilable for commercial plant practice isbeing circulated around a portion of the enclosed system, re'sultingin a continuous condensation of a' portion of the distilled vapors and i their collection in a portion of the apparatus in liquid form.

A testing method which"cons ists"in passing a measured volume of natural gas,

said volume being determined by a knowledge of :the quality of gasoline to be recovered therefrom, through activated charcoal wherein a portion ofthe gasoline vapors are, absorbed, later placing the activated charcoal, together with a measured quantity of high boiling liquid, in a retort securely attached to a gas-tight system so arranged that a predetermined pressure may be built up by the distilled vapors and maintain-ed throughout the system when heat is applied at a regulated rate to the activated charcoal and while cooling water at a temperature equal to that available for commercial gasoline plant practice is being circulated around a portion of the enclosed system,'resulting in a continuous condensa- "tion of the portion of the gasoline vapors and the collection of the gasoline vapors in the apparatus in liquid form. V

6. A testing method consisting in selec tively absorbing a portion of-the gasoline vapors from a measured 'volume of naturalgas. in activated charcoal, later distilling the absorbed gasoline vapors therefrom' by placing said activated charcoal, together with a high boiling liquid, in a distilling retort and securely attaching said retort to a gas-tight closed condenser and collecting system, applying heat to the retort, and con densing slowly until a predetermined pressure has been created throughout the system by the gasoline vapors distilled from the activated charcoal, passingcooling water in contact with a portion of the closed system to continuously condense a portion of the distilled gasoline vapors, regulating a relief valve so that the uncondensed gasoline vapors slowlv escape, maintaining the heat around the retort thereafter so as to main-- tain the constant pressure on the system and collecting the condensed gasoline vapors indistilled gasoline vapors throughoutthe system, maintaining a temperature on a portion of the closedcontainer equal to that obtainable in commercial plant practice throughout; the. distillat on, slightly opening a relief valve located beyond the cooling portion of the apparatus after the predetermined pressure has been reached so as to permit the esca e of a limited portion of the uncondense vapors and thereafter so regulatingthe heat being applied to the retort and the relief valve that the predetermined-pressure is maintained throughout the distillation, and finally collecting the condensed material which has separated by gravity from the uncondensed gasoline vapors in the lower portion of the vertical apparatus.

8.- A distillation process to be used in a.

'testing'method which consists in placing a measured quantity 'of solid absorbent partially saturated with retort to a gas-tight close condenser and collection system, applying heat to the retort and contents slowly until a predetermined pressure has been created throughout the system bythe vapors distilled from the solid absorbent, passing cooling water in contact with a portion of the closed system to continuously' condense a portionof the distilled vapors, regulating a relief valve so that the uncondensed vapors slowlyescape, maintaining the heat around the retort thereafter so as, to maintain the constant pressure on absorbed vapors, together-with-a highboiling liquid, in a distilling retort and securel attaching said applyin heat to the solid absorbent slowly until su cient vapors have been driven from the absorbent to cause a predeterminedpressure throughout the system and thereafter I at such a rate as will maintain said pressure when a relief valve located near the opposite end of the apparatus is slightly opened to allow the escape of a portion of the I trapped vapors, circulating cooling water of a temperature comparable to that available for commercial plant practice at a predetermined rate around a portion of the apparatus in such a way that a portion of the absorbed vapors are condensed and'caught in another portion of the in'liquid form apparatus. 7 v

In testimony whereof we aflix our signaturesr I CLYDE LENNARD VORESSQ VERNON CHARLES CANTER. ROBERT WALFRED- SKOOG. 

